“Top foodservice industry professionals and their fans gathered last night at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the 32nd Annual RAMMY Awards as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced winners in 20 award categories. To keep up with metropolitan Washington’s quickly evolving dining scene, new this year were seven award categories, celebrating brunches, service programs, mixology and other definitive aspects of the greater Washington’s restaurant and foodservice industry.

The selection process for the winners involved two esteemed groups, the voting public and a panel of volunteer judges, consisting of food and dining journalists, educators and foodservice industry professionals who remained anonymous to the public as well as each other through the judging process. The voting public decided the winners in four categories: Favorite Gathering Place of the Year, Upscale Brunch, Everyday Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites.

The winners of the 32nd Annual RAMMY Awards are:

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Fiola

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Ripple

Everyday Casual Restaurant of the Year: Toki Underground

New Restaurant of the Year: The Red Hen

Chef of the Year: Haidar Karoum, Doi Moi, Estadio, Proof

Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Michael Friedman, The Red Hen

Pastry Chef of the Year: Caitlin Dysart, 2941 Restaurant

Wine Program of the Year: Ripple

Cocktail Program of the Year***: Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Beer Program of the Year***: Birch and Barley / ChurchKey

Service Program of the Year***: Blue Duck Tavern

Restaurateur of the Year: Michael Babin, Neighborhood Restaurant Group